Statement from Councillor Rowena Santos, Councillor Dennis Keenan and Councillor Rod Power (City Council representatives of the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) Pilot Task Force)
BRAMPTON, ON (January 31, 2024) – The RRL Pilot program was developed over 12 months in response to thousands of recurring complaints over many years from residents regarding rental units in residential neighbourhoods. The RRL program is being piloted in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7, areas which represent the highest concentration of recurring complaints related to health, safety and property standards. It is being monitored by a special task force which includes Council representatives and members of staff, with flexibility to enhance implementation.
Complaints regarding the growing number of residential rental units have worsened over the past four years. Crowding, fire safety, overflowing garbage, rodents, overgrown grass, snow removal, excessive parking particularly on lawns and sidewalks, along with other parking offences, are examples of ongoing issues that residents email and call about on a daily basis to Council offices. Reacting, managing, investigating, and enforcing a growing number of recurring complaints is costly to the City and proven to be ineffective.
The RRL pilot proactively establishes a system whereby landlords (with registered or currently unregistered units) are required to obtain and renew their licence annually. The RRL pilot intends to hold landlords accountable for their rental properties or risk having their licence revoked and/or be subject to inspection and/or substantial fines.
We appreciate the feedback received to date requesting that the City better streamline the process, particularly for existing registered units and we are implementing changes accordingly. We recognize that many landlords are providing much needed safe housing options for tenant’s landlords who incur no fines on their rental properties during the year can expect reduced and/or waived renewal fees.
Municipalities have jurisdiction over the property through its owner, as it relates to upholding health, safety and property standards. However, the City of Brampton has passed a motion calling on the provincial government to make changes supporting the concerns expressed by landlords during the RRL pilot and we will continue with this advocacy.
The RRL Pilot Program protects the health and safety of all residents and maintains the quality of our neighbourhoods. The program ensures that landlords know their responsibilities and are held accountable.
Landlords who exploit tenants, operate unsafe housing, neglect property standards and deteriorate our neighbourhoods will not be tolerated. While residential rental units have an important role to play in addressing the housing crisis, landlords must operate responsibly and with effective accountability measures in place.
City of Brampton RRL Website (currently paused)
Councillor Santos RRL Website (updates and feedback for Wards 1 & 5)
Contacts
Rowena Santos
Brampton Regional Councillor Wards 1 & 5
Rowena.Santos@brampton.ca
Dennis Keenan
Brampton Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4
Dennis.Keenan@brampton.ca
Rod Power
Brampton Regional Councillor Wards 7 & 8
Rod.Power@brampton.ca
